Case partition



R. MATTlcK CASE PARTITION April 6, 1.937.

Filed June l0, 1935 l at their meeting points Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE CASE PARTITION Ralph Mattick, St. Loui eral Metal Products Com s, Mo., assignor to Genpany, St. Louis, Mo.,

7 Claims.

My invention relates to case partitions and more particularly to partitions such as are used to divide the interiors of cases for bottled beverages into a plurality of compartments, each 5 adapted to receive and hold a bottle.

Heretofore, these partitions have been formed usually of comparatively thin pieces of wood with the longitudinal partitions extending between the end walls of the case and the transverse partitions extending between the side walls thereof. Sometimes the walls of the case were grooved to receive the ends of the partitions and prevent them from lateral movement. The partitions in common practice were notched and i-nterlocked to form a spider resting on the bottom of the case.

When bottles Were removed from or replaced in the case often the partitions and particularly the outermost ends thereof would be broken.

Also, although handles are provided at the ends of such cases the person handling them in delivery or storage would seldom use the handles, but would grasp the necks of two adjacent bottles and by squeezing the necks together would wedge the bottles in the compartments formed by the partitions so that the case could be lifted without the bottles slipping from place. As a result of this method of handling a serious strain was imposed upon the partitions and the partitions often would be broken. This breakage was particularly serious with cases which were shallow so that the upper portions of the bottles contained therein projected above the top of the case. Also, breakage occurred more often at the free ends of the partitions, that is, at that portion of each partition extending between the outermost point of interlocking with a cross partition and the Wall of the case. Y

When the partitions were broken it was necessary to remove the entire spider from the case, replace the broken partition and then insert the repaired spider back in proper place in the case. In bottling plants doing a large business this breakage has become a serious and costly problem.

With this and other problems in mind the objects of my invention are to provide a case partition of the type described which will be strong and which, therefore, will obviate most of the breakage described above and to provide a partition which will be cheap in manufacture and installation.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein similar char- 55 acters are used to designate similar parts: Fig. 1

is a vie-w in perspective of a case in which the transverse partitions are formed according to my new and improved design; Fig. 2 is a partial view of the case shown in Fig. 1; Fig.`3 is a perspective view of one of the partitions; and Fig. 4 is, 5 a section along the lines 4 4 in Fig. 3.

In its broadest concept my invention contemplates the manufacture of a partition from a sheet of comparatively thin metal with certain portions thereof stiifened to resist bending under normal usage when the partition is included in a case. If the metal partition is so stiffened a light sheet may be used with a great saving in manufacturing cost without sacricing the strength of the parts.

Referring to the figures in the embodiment shown the case A of usual form and shape includes longitudinal partitions B extending be tween the end Walls C and having their ends positioned in grooves D and transverse partitions E extending between theV side Walls F and. having their ends positioned in grooves G. In the case shown the partitions B are made of Wood, but the transverse partitions E are made of metal according to my invention.

Each of the transverse partitions E is stamped or otherwise formed from a single sheet of metal and the lower edge thereof is provided with a flange H, preferably, bent at right angles to the plane of the partition. The outer ends of the flange H are arranged to incline upwardly as at J for the purpose more fully hereinafter explained. The upper edge of the partition simi'- larly is provided with a angc but, preferably, this iiange is rolled as at K to form a rounded edge. Extending inwardly from an edge of the partition, in this form from the upper edge, are a plurality of spaced notches L positioned and arranged to receive the longitudinal partitions B so that an interlocking t will be formed. Preferably, the longitudinal partitions B have shallow notches therein, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the form shown the plate is further stiffened by the embossed portion M which may be of any shape and arrangement, but, which, as shown in the figures, is centrally located in the partition and has the outer boundaries thereofmerging into the plane of the plate at lines to follow generally themarginal portions thereof.

It will be seen readily that when the partitions E are assembled in the case, as shown in Fig. 1, the outer ends of the flanges K and H on each partition will t in the grooves G and, if the parts are properly proportioned the roll flange K will provide a spring t therein. If the ange H extended in the same plane across the bottom of the partition it might creep into the space between the side walls F and the bottom N of the case and the partition would be slightly displaced. However, if the flange I-I at each end of the partition is inclined upwardly, as shown, such creeping will be prevented because, as shown in Fig. 2, the edges of the portions J will bear against the side walls of the groove G and as the major portion of the ange I-I lies against the bottom of the oase it will be impossible for the portions J to 'slip between the bottom and the side walls. Also, the stiifening effect of the rolled edge K, the

flange H and the embossed portions M will prevent a partition from bending even if thin metal is used.

While I prefer that the entire metal partition be stiffened, in some cases it is necessary only to stiffen the partition by the means shown or by any other suitable expedient at the end portions thereof, that is, at the portions between the ends and the outermost of the notches L. If these portions were not stiffened and would bend under normal usage the end of the partition would pull away from a groove G and the supporting effect of said groove would be lost.

If the rolled ange K is provided at the top of the partition, a rounded edge will be formed to guide a bottle into a compartment. Also, the flange K will provide a resilient body to cushion the shock when the bottles in adjacent compartments move sharply together as the case is handled.

In manufacturing cases of this kind I have found that usually it is desirable to provide means for tieing the side walls F together at the middle of the case. Therefore, on the partition E arranged at this point I provide a part P extending outwardly from each end of the partition and having a hooked portion Q which, when the partition is in place, extends outwardly as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, but, which, if the partition is in place, may be driven into the side wall of the case, also as shown in Fig. 2. The parts P may be welded or may be xed by any suitable expedient to the partition.

I have shown one embodiment only of my invention, but it is to be understood that the arrangement, size and shape of a partition embodying my invention and a case in which said partition is included may be varied within wide limits without deviating from the spirit of my invention as included in the appended claims. For instance, I have shown the transverse partitions only formed of metal and shaped as described, but all of the partitions in thecase may be so formed. Further, I have shown certain specific means for stiiening the partition but any suitable expedient for this purpose may be used. Likewise, the portions P may be of any desired shape and may be secured to the partition by any suitable means,

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A partition for cases comprising a sheet of metal having a series of notches extending inwardly from an edge thereof and adapted and aomaoe arranged to receive partitions extending at right angles thereto and said sheet having a flange formed along the lower longitudinal edge thereof and said flange being inclined upwardly from said lower edge at each end thereof.

2. A partition for cases comprising a sheet of metal having a series of notches extending inwardly from an edge thereof and adapted and arranged to receive partitions extending at right angles thereto and said sheet having a rolled flange along the upper longitudinal edge thereof and a flange along the lower longitudinal edge thereof.

3. A partition for cases comprising a sheet of metal having a series of notches extending inwardly from an edge thereof and adapted and arranged to receive partitions extending at right angles thereto and said sheet having `a rolled flange along the upper longitudinal edge thereof and a flange along the lower longitudinal edge thereof, and the portions of said sheet between the outermost of said notches and the ends of said sheet being further stiffened to resist bending under normal use when said partition is included in a case.

4. A partition for cases comprising a sheet of metal having a series of notches extending inwardly from an edge thereof and adapted and arranged to receive partitions extending at right angles thereto and said sheet being embossed within the marginal portions thereof and having the longitudinal edges thereof provided with flanges whereby said sheet will resist bending under normal use when said partition is included in a case.

5. A partition for cases comprising a sheet of metal having a series of notches extending inwardly from an edge thereof. and adapted and arranged to receive partitions extending at right angles thereto and said sheet being embossed within the marginal portions thereof and having the longitudinal edges thereof provided with flanges whereby said sheet will resist bending under normal use when said partition is included in a case, and a fastener extending from each end of said partition and carried thereby and adapted to engage a side wall of said case.

6. The combination in a case of the type described, a plurality of partitions extending substantially at right angles to one another to divide the interior of said case into a plurality of compartments and at least one of said partitions comprising a sheet of metal having a ange formed along the lower longitudinal edge thereof and a rolled flange along the upper longitudinal edge thereof.

'7. The combination in a case of the type described, a plurality of partitions extending substantially at right angles to one another to divide the interior of said case into a plurality of compartments and at least one of said partitions comprising a sheet of metal embossed within the marginal portions thereof and having the longitudinal edges thereof provided with flanges whereby said sheet will resist bending under normal use of said case.

i RALPH MATIICK. 

